Desiccant regenerator system

Abstract

A natural gas dehydrator wherein a portion of the wet glycol from the absorber is pumped under pressure as circulating wet glycol which is used as a coolant for effluents removed from a reboiler and a power source for an educator to form a vacuum in a first chamber of a liquid water removal separator apparatus. The cooled effluents, comprising liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors, move in to the first chamber wherein the liquid water is separated therefrom. The liquid hydrocarbons and the uncondensed vapors are removed from the first chamber and move into the eductor wherein they are combined into the circulating wet glycol. The separated liquid water is transferred to a second chamber of the liquid water removal separator apparatus and then removed therefrom. Also, gases from gas emitting level control apparatus in the natural gas dehydrator are collected and fed into the first chamber.

1. A method wherein a supply of natural gas is fed into an absorber wherein it is subjected to dry glycol to remove undesirable materials therefrom so that the dry glycol is changed into wet glycol that is removed from the absorber comprising:
 feeding wet glycol from said absorber into a separator apparatus;  
 collecting a supply of wet glycol to a predetermined level in said separator apparatus;  
 feeding excess wet glycol greater than said predetermined level from said separator apparatus to a reboiler for changing said excess wet glycol into dry glycol and effluents;  
 feeding said effluents to a condenser apparatus;  
 circulating wet glycol from said supply of wet glycol through said condenser apparatus to change said effluents to at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors and returning said circulating wet glycol to said separator apparatus;  
 feeding said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors to a liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 separating said liquid water from said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors; and  
 feeding said at least liquid hydrocarbons and  said uncondensed vapors to said separator apparatus.  
 
     
     
       2. A method as in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 positioning an eductor having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vacuum port between said liquid water removal separator apparatus and said separator apparatus;  
 feeding said circulating wet glycol to said inlet port;  
 passing said circulating wet glycol through said eductor and out of said outlet port to create a vacuum;  
 feeding said circulating wet glycol from said outlet port into said separator apparatus; and  
 connecting said vacuum port to said liquid water removal separator apparatus to form a vacuum therein.  
 
     
     
       3. A method as in  claim 2  and further comprising:
 forming at least a first and a second chamber in said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 feeding said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors into said first chamber;  
 separating said at least liquid water, said liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors in said first chamber;  
 removing said liquid hydrocarbons and said uncondensed vapors from said first chamber and passing said removed liquid hydrocarbons and said uncondensed vapors to said eductor;  
 transferring at least a portion of said liquid water from said first chamber to said second chamber until said liquid water in said second chamber reaches a predetermined level; and  
 removing at least a portion of said liquid water from said second chamber.  
 
     
     
       4. A method as in  claim 3  and further comprising:
 providing at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in at least said absorber, said separator apparatus and said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 continuously collecting said gases emitted by said gas emitting level control apparatus; and  
 feeding said continuously collected gases from said gas emitting level control apparatus into said first chamber.  
 
     
     
       5. A method as in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 forming a first and a second chamber in said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 feeding said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors into said first chamber;  
 separating said at least liquid water, said liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors in said first chamber;  
 removing said liquid hydrocarbons and said uncondensed vapors from said first chamber;  
 transferring at least a portion of said liquid water from said first chamber to said second chamber until said liquid water in said second chamber reaches a predetermined level; and  
 removing at least a portion of said liquid water from said second chamber.  
 
     
     
       6. A method as in  claim 5  and further comprising:
 providing at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in at least said absorber, said separator apparatus and said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 continuously collecting said gases emitted by said gas emitting level control apparatus; and  
 feeding said continuously collected gases from said gas emitting level control apparatus into said first chamber.  
 
     
     
       7. A method as in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 providing at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in at least said absorber, said separator apparatus and said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 continuously collecting said gases emitted by said gas emitting level control apparatus; and  
 feeding said continuously collected gases from said gas emitting level control apparatus into said first chamber.  
 
     
     
       8. A natural gas dehydrator wherein a supply of natural gas is fed into an absorber wherein it is subjected to dry glycol to remove undesirable materials therefrom so that the dry glycol is changed into wet glycol that is removed from the absorber comprising:
 separator apparatus for receiving said wet glycol from said absorber;  
 said separator apparatus having structure for holding a predetermined amount of said wet glycol;  
 said separator apparatus having additional structure for receiving excess wet glycol from said structure;  
 reboiler apparatus for receiving said excess wet glycol and changing said excess wet glycol into dry glycol and effluents;  
 condenser apparatus for receiving said effluents;  
 circulating apparatus for circulating wet glycol from said structure through said condenser apparatus to change said effluents to at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors and returning said circulating wet glycol to said separator apparatus;  
 liquid water removal separator apparatus for receiving said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors and for separating and removing said liquid water; and  
 removing apparatus for removing said liquid hydrocarbons and said uncondensed vapors from said liquid water removal separator apparatus and feeding said liquid hydrocarbons and  said uncondensed vapors to said separator apparatus.  
 
     
     
       9. A natural gas dehydrator as in  claim 8  wherein said removing apparatus comprises:
 an eductor having an inlet port, an exit port and a vacuum port;  
 a first conduit through which said circulating wet glycol flows connected to said inlet port;  
 a second conduit extending between said outlet port and said separator apparatus; and  
 a third conduit extending between said liquid water removal separator apparatus and said vacuum port.  
 
     
     
       10. A natural gas dehydrator as in  claim 9  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus comprises:
 a hollow shell;  
 a partition in said hollow shell for forming at least a first and a second chamber in said hollow shell;  
 a first outlet port in said first chamber;  
 said third conduit being connected to said first chamber for forming a vacuum therein;  
 a first inlet port in said first chamber so that said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors can flow into said first chamber and be separated into at least an upper layer comprising said uncondensed vapors, a middle layer comprising said liquid hydrocarbons and a lower layer comprising said liquid water;  
 said first outlet port being located so that said uncondensed vapors and said liquid hydrocarbons flow through said first outlet port into said third conduit;  
 a second outlet port in said first chamber;  
 a second inlet port in said second chamber;  
 a conduit connecting said second outlet port and said second inlet port so that said liquid water can flow from said first chamber into said second chamber; and  
 a drain port in said second chamber for draining said liquid water from said second chamber.  
 
     
     
       11. A natural gas dehydrator as in  claim 10  and further comprising:
 at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in at least said absorber, said separator apparatus and said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 a gas inlet port in said first chamber of said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 collecting apparatus for collecting said gases emitted from said gas emitting level control apparatus; and  
 conduits extending between said collecting apparatus and said gas inlet port for transmitting said gases to said gas inlet port.  
 
     
     
       12. A natural gas dehydrator as in  claim 8  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus comprises:
 a hollow shell;  
 a partition in said hollow shell for forming at least a first and a second chamber in said hollow shell;  
 a first outlet port in said first chamber;  
 a first inlet port in said first chamber so that said at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors can flow into said first chamber and be separated into at least an upper layer comprising said uncondensed vapors, a middle layer comprising said liquid hydrocarbons and a lower layer comprising said liquid water;  
 said first outlet port being located so that said uncondensed vapors and said liquid hydrocarbons flow through said first outlet port;  
 a second outlet port in said first chamber;  
 a second inlet port in said second chamber;  
 a conduit connecting said second outlet port and said second inlet port so that said liquid water can flow from said first chamber into said second chamber; and  
 a drain port in said second chamber for draining said liquid water from said second chamber.  
 
     
     
       13. A natural gas dehydrator as in  claim 12  and further comprising:
 at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in at least said absorber, said separator apparatus and said water separator apparatus;  
 a gas inlet port in said first chamber;  
 collecting apparatus for collecting said gases emitted from said gas emitting level control apparatus; and  
 conduits extending between said collecting apparatus and said gas inlet port transmitting said gases to said gas inlet port.  
 
     
     
       14. A natural gas dehydrator as in  claim 8  and further comprising:
 at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in at least said absorber, said separator apparatus and said liquid water removal separator apparatus;  
 said liquid water removal separator apparatus having at least a first chamber;  
 a gas inlet port in said first chamber;  
 collecting apparatus for continuously collecting said gases emitted from said gas emitting level control apparatus; and  
 conduits extending between said collecting apparatus and said gas inlet port for transmitting said continuously collected gases to said gas inlet port.  
 
     
     
       15. A desiccant regenerator system comprising:
   an absorber;        a separator apparatus linked directly to the absorber via a conduit, said separator apparatus for receiving wet desiccant from the absorber;        a reboiler to change the wet desiccant into dry desiccant and an effluent;        a condenser apparatus for receiving the effluent from said reboiler; and        a liquid water removal separator apparatus to receive at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors from said condenser apparatus.      
     
     
       16. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  wherein said wet desiccant comprises wet glycol.  
     
     
       17. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  wherein said absorber changes dry desiccant into wet desiccant.  
     
     
       18. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 17  further comprising a dry desiccant storage unit that receives dry desiccant from a reboiler and provides the dry desiccant to said absorber.  
     
     
       19. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 17  further comprising a gas supply system for making contact with the dry desiccant in said absorber, to change the dry desiccant into wet desiccant.  
     
     
       20. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  wherein said condenser apparatus changes the effluent to at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors.  
     
     
       21. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  wherein said condenser apparatus comprises a circulating apparatus for circulating the wet desiccant through said condenser apparatus.  
     
     
       22. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 21  wherein said circulating apparatus returns the wet desiccant to said separator apparatus.  
     
     
       23. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus separates and removes liquid water from the at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors.  
     
     
       24. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 23  further comprising a removal apparatus disposed between said liquid water removal separator apparatus and said separator apparatus for moving hydrocarbon gases to said separator apparatus.  
     
     
       25. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 24  wherein said removal apparatus removes the uncondensed vapors from said liquid water removal separator apparatus.  
     
     
       26. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 24  wherein said removal apparatus feeds the uncondensed vapors to said separator apparatus.  
     
     
       27. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 24  wherein said removal apparatus comprises an eductor.  
     
     
       28. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 27  wherein the eductor further comprises an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vacuum port.  
     
     
       29. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 28  wherein said removal apparatus comprises:
   a first conduit through which circulating liquid desiccant flows connected to said inlet port;        a second conduit extending between said outlet port and said separator apparatus; and        a third conduit extending between said liquid water removal separator apparatus and said vacuum port.      
     
     
       30. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  further comprising a gas emitting level control apparatus in said separator apparatus.  
     
     
       31. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 15  further comprising a gas emitting level control apparatus in said absorber.  
     
     
       32. A method of desiccant regeneration in a desiccant regeneration system comprising the steps of:
   providing an absorber;        directly feeding liquid desiccant from the absorber into a separator apparatus;        collecting a supply of the liquid desiccant to a level in the separator apparatus;        feeding excess liquid desiccant greater than the level in the separator apparatus from the separator apparatus to a reboiler;        changing the excess liquid desiccant into dry desiccant and effluent;        feeding the effluent to a condenser apparatus; and        changing the effluent in the condenser apparatus to at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors.      
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of discharging excess liquid desiccant over the level from the separator apparatus.  
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32  where the liquid desiccant comprises wet glycol.  
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of obtaining the liquid desiccant to be fed into the separator apparatus from the absorber.  
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of changing dry desiccant into wet desiccant in the absorber.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35  further comprising the steps of:
   obtaining dry desiccant for the absorber from a dry desiccant storage unit, said dry desiccant storage unit receiving the dry desiccant from a reboiler; and        changing the dry desiccant into wet desiccant by contact with a gas in the absorber.      
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37  where the gas comprises natural gas.  
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of discharging dry gas from the absorber.  
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 32  wherein the step of collecting a supply of liquid desiccant to a level in the separator apparatus comprises collecting a supply of liquid desiccant to a predetermined level.  
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of feeding the dry desiccant into a dry desiccant storage unit.  
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of circulating liquid desiccant from the separator apparatus through a condenser apparatus.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of returning liquid desiccant to the separator apparatus.  
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of circulating liquid desiccant from the separator apparatus through the condenser apparatus.  
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of returning the liquid desiccant to the separator apparatus.  
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of feeding the at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors to a liquid water removal separator apparatus.  
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46  further comprising the step of separating liquid water from the at least water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors in the liquid water removal separator apparatus.  
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 47  further comprising the step of discharging the liquid water.  
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 47  further comprising the step of feeding the uncondensed vapors to the separator apparatus.  
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 46  further comprising the step of forming a first and second chamber in the liquid water removal separator apparatus.  
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 50  further comprising the steps of:
   feeding the at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors into the first chamber; and        separating the at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors in the first chamber.      
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 51  further comprising the steps of:
   removing uncondensed vapors from the first chamber; and        passing uncondensed vapors to an eductor.      
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 52  further comprising the steps of:
   transferring a portion of the liquid water from the first chamber to the second chamber until the liquid water in the second chamber reaches a level; and        removing a portion of the liquid water from the second chamber.      
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of providing at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in the separator apparatus.  
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 33  further comprising the step of providing at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in the absorber.  
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 46  further comprising the step of providing at least one gas emitting level control apparatus in the liquid water removal separator apparatus.  
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 56  further comprising the steps of:
   continuously collecting gases emitted by the gas emitting level control apparatus; and        feeding continuously collected gases from the gas emitting level control apparatus into the liquid water removal separator apparatus.      
     
     
       58. A desiccant regenerator system comprising:
   an absorber;        a separator apparatus linked directly to the absorber via a conduit, said separator apparatus for receiving wet desiccant from the absorber;        a reboiler to change the wet desiccant into dry desiccant and an effluent;        a condenser apparatus for receiving the effluent from said reboiler; and        a liquid water removal separator apparatus comprising:      a hollow shell;        a partition in said hollow shell for forming at least a first and a second chamber in said hollow shell;        a first outlet port in said first chamber; and          an eductor in fluidic connection with said first chamber to for forming a vacuum therein.      
     
     
       59. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 58  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus further comprises a first inlet port in said first chamber so that the at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors can flow into said first chamber.  
     
     
       60. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 59  wherein the at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons, and uncondensed vapors separate into at least an upper layer comprising the uncondensed vapors, a middle layer comprising liquid hydrocarbons, and a lower layer comprising liquid water.  
     
     
       61. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 60  wherein said first outlet port is located so that the uncondensed vapors flow through said first outlet port into said conduit.  
     
     
       62. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 61  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus further comprises:
   a second outlet port in said first chamber; and        a second inlet port in said second chamber.      
     
     
       63. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 62  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus further comprises a conduit connecting said second outlet port and said second inlet port so that the liquid water can flow from said first chamber to said second chamber.  
     
     
       64. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 63  wherein said liquid water removal separator apparatus further comprises a drain port in said second chamber for draining liquid water from said second chamber.  
     
     
       65. A desiccant regenerator system comprising:
   an absorber;        a separator apparatus linked directly to the absorber via a conduit, said separator apparatus for receiving wet desiccant from the absorber;        a reboiler to change the wet desiccant into dry desiccant and an effluent;        a condenser apparatus for receiving the effluent from said reboiler;        a liquid water removal separator apparatus; and        a gas emitting level control apparatus in said liquid water removal separator, said gas emitting level control apparatus comprising:      a gas inlet port in a first chamber of said liquid water removal separator apparatus;        a collecting apparatus for collecting gases emitted from said gas emitting level control apparatus; and        conduits extending between said collecting apparatus and said gas inlet port that transmit gases to said gas inlet port.        
     
     
       66. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 65  further comprising a level in said separator apparatus for the liquid desiccant.  
     
     
       67. The desiccant regenerator system of  claim 66  further comprising a discharge outlet for the excess liquid desiccant to be discharged over said level.  
     
     
       68. A method of desiccant regeneration in a desiccant regeneration system comprising the steps of:
   providing an absorber;        directly feeding liquid desiccant from the absorber into a separator apparatus; and        disposing an eductor between a liquid water removal separator apparatus and the separator apparatus to move hydrocarbon gases and liquid desiccant from the liquid water removal separator apparatus to the separator apparatus.      
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 68  further comprising the step of providing the eductor with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vacuum port.  
     
     
       70. The method of  claim 69  further comprising the steps of:
   feeding circulating liquid desiccant through the inlet port; and        passing circulating liquid desiccant through the eductor and out of the outlet port to create a vacuum.      
     
     
       71. The method of  claim 70  further comprising the step of feeding circulating liquid desiccant from the outlet port into the separator apparatus.  
     
     
       72. The method of  claim 70  further comprising the step of connecting the vacuum port to the liquid water removal separator apparatus to form a vacuum therein.